Consider Funding a Trust with Life Insurance

Estate planning is all about ensuring that your wishes are met after your death. All estate plans should include a will and powers of attorney. However, in many cases, a trust has additional benefits beyond what can be accomplished with the will and powers of attorney.

How to Protect Your Estate from Unintended Heirs

October 9, 2020
Bill O’Leary, Esq.
Estate Planning, Probate and Estate/Trust Administration

What happens when a decedent’s will or trust does not provide for a decedent’s child?

Pre-Election Estate Planning Includes a Vast Variety of Trusts

October 7, 2020
Bill O’Leary, Esq.
Asset Protection, Business Planning, Elder Care, Elder Law, Estate Planning, Life Insurance, Long-Term Care Planning, Power of Attorney, Probate and Estate/Trust Administration

Why wait? A variety of trusts—from SLATs to BDITs, GRATs and more—can help you be proactive in protecting your wealth.

What Needs to Happen after a Spouse Dies?

September 26, 2020
Bill O’Leary, Esq.
Asset Protection, Elder Care, Elder Law, Estate Planning, Power of Attorney, Probate and Estate/Trust Administration

The list of things you need to do after someone dies can seem endless, especially during a time when you are also grieving.

Estate Planning Needs for Every Stage

September 25, 2020
Bill O’Leary, Esq.
Asset Protection, Elder Care, Elder Law, Estate Planning, Power of Attorney, Probate and Estate/Trust Administration

Although there is often a progression of complexity in estate planning, this progression generally follows stages in life rather than specific ages.

Estate Planning for Asset Distribution

September 24, 2020
Bill O’Leary, Esq.
Asset Protection, Business Planning, Elder Care, Elder Law, Estate Planning, Power of Attorney, Probate and Estate/Trust Administration

The distribution of some of our assets can be governed by contracts. Examples of these contracts include life insurance, investment accounts, bank accounts and trusts.

Searching for Lower Taxes? Check State Laws

September 23, 2020
Bill O’Leary, Esq.
Asset Protection, Estate Planning, Probate and Estate/Trust Administration

Some states are great to live in, but not so great to die in.

How to Make Beneficiary Designations Better

September 22, 2020
Bill O’Leary, Esq.
Asset Protection, Elder Care, Elder Law, Estate Planning, Power of Attorney, Probate and Estate/Trust Administration

Beneficiary mistakes can result in retirement plan assets being transferred to unintended beneficiaries.

How Do I Keep My Spendthrift Son-in-Law from Getting the Money I Give my Daughter in My Estate?

September 15, 2020
Bill O’Leary, Esq.
Asset Protection, Estate Planning, Power of Attorney, Probate and Estate/Trust Administration

My daughter, my only child, recently married a nice man. However, he is not responsible with his finances. I don’t want my son-in-law to have any access to her money or through a divorce via equitable distribution.

What Is a ‘Caregiver’ Agreement?

As family members age and require care, the burden of that care often falls on an adult child. For those that leave jobs to care for family members, it can become a financial hardship for the family.